Mower.



J. H. SIEGPRIED.

MOWER. APPLICATION IILED SEPT.26,1907.

Patented Nov. 10, 1908.

2 SHEETS-SHBET 1.

Wz-Z7eo1sas I J. H. SIEGPRIED. MOWER. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 26,1907.

Patented Nov. 10, 1908.

2 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

JOHN HENRY SIEGFRIED, or LEMOORE, CALIFORNIA.

MOWER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 10, 1908.

Application filed September 26, 1907. Serial No. 394,669.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN HENRY SIEG- FRIED, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lemoore, in the county of Kings and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Mowers, 'of. which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to improvements in mowers, and especially of the vertical bar class; and it has for its object primarily 'to provide an improved device of this character wherein the cutting speed of the knives with a given ratio of gearing is increased, so that the mowing operation is performed with greater uniformity and with an expenditure of less power.

Another object of the invention is to obviate the use of the relatively fixedguards by the use of a pair of cooperatively arranged knives provided'with means for simultaneously reciprocating them in opposite directions, the stems of the material to be mowed being thereby engaged by a knife edge at opposite sides during the operation of the knives,- so that a double cutting action serves to sever the stems, and by obviating the use of the usual guards, there is no liability ofchoking of the knives.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a knifeattachment of the character described that is capable of being applied universally to mowers of the several well known types, to provide improved mountings for the knives whereby the friction thereof is reduced to aminimum, to so mount the latter that a self-sharpening action thereof is effected, and to provide simple and efficient knife operating devices that are capable of being readily applied to mowers of the usual or well known type without material modification.

To these and other ends, the invention consists-in certain improvements, and combinations and arrangements of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out particularly in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a top plan view. of a mower equipped with cutting knives constructed in accord-' ance with the present invention, the body of the mower being shown conventionally in dotted lines; Fig. 2 is a detail view of the knife-carrying arm and covering cap detached from the machine; Fig. 3 represents a transverse section of the knives and the supporting arm; Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the inner ends of the cutting knives showing means for operatively connecting then'ito the pitman; Fig. 5 1s a detail view, partly in section, of the eccentrics by means of which the knives are simultaneously reciprocated or vibrated 1n opposite directions; Fig. 6 is a plan view of the operating eccentrics shown in Fig. 5.

Similar parts are designated by the same numerals of reference in the several figures. Cutter knives constructed in accordance with the present invention'are capable of being applied universally to mowers of the several well known types, and that form of the invention shown in the present embodiment thereof is adapted to be interchangeably applied to mowers of the vertical bar type, that is to say, those wherem the V1- bratory cutter knife or knives are carr ed by an arm which is pivoted on the machine in a way that will permit it to OCCUPY llOII- zontal or vertical positions, and posltions intermedate thereof, the knife or knives normally operating in a horizontal plane on a level, and in a plane at an' incline to the horizontal when operating on a terrace, the vertical position of the knife or knlves being useful during the transportation of the machine from one field to another, or when it is desirable or necessary to clear obstructions in the path of the cut.

In the present instance the invention s shown applied to a mower of ordinary form embodying, generally, a frame 1 supported by the driving wheels 2 and 3 and provided with a suitable multiplying gear for effecting the vibratory movements of the knives at the requisite speed, the gearing shown in the present instance comprising a spur wheel 4 adapted to be connected and disconnected relatively to the driving wheels by means of a clutch 5, the spur wheel cooperating with a pinion 6 on a counter-shaft 7 the latter carrying a beveled gear8 wh ch engages a cooperating gear 9 upon the driving shaft 10. The machine frame is provided at one side with a bracket 11 which serves as a pivotal support for the knife attachment,

the bracket being provided for thispurpose with a pair of plvot pins 12 and 13 having their axes arranged in alinement and extending in a direction substantially longitudinally of the machine. A

The knifeattachment as shown in the present embodiment of the invention com prises, generally, an arm 14 "which corresponds to the usual finger-bar of the 'ordinary mower, the arm being substantially flat to form a' support and guide for the knives; and .its forward edge is upturned to form a flange 15 which preferably extendsfthroughout its length. The arm is usually supported in proper relation to the ground whi e-in operation by means of the miner and outer shoes 16- and 17- respectively,

the inner shoe. being provided with a pair of eyes 18 and 19 to receive the pivot pins 12 and 13 respectively of the supporting bracket and' cooperating therewith to guide the arm for movement in a vertical plane.

Any suitable ineans may be employed for and 21 are mounte and lowering the arm, the lever emin mowers of the usual types being purpose. The knives 20 to vibrate in a direction liftin ploye suitable for this longitudinally of the arm and in reverse di- 'rections relatively to one another; and those shown in the present instance are com osed of a pair of knife bars 22 and 23, the ower knife bar resting above the upper side of the supporting arm and with its forward edge in cocperative relation with the forward flange 15 thereon, and the knife bars are rovided with the 'sets of sectional knife lades 24: and 25, the latter bei so arranged that the flat sides of the b ades are in engagement with one another while the knife bars are arranged above and below them. The cutting edges of these knife blades are also beveled towardsxtheir cooperatingsurfaces so that when they over one anothera shearing action is produced. The two knives are retained in position on the supporting arm by means of a removable-cap or casing 26 which preferably extends throughout the length of the knives and has a depending flange 27 at its forward edge arran d to cooperate with the corres onding e ge of the up er knife bar, while t e rear portion thereo is directed downwardly and extended rearwardly to form an attaching flange 28 which is adapted tocoeperatev with the upper side-of-the supportmg arm and is secured thereto by bolts or other suitabledevices29; In practice, this cap or casing not only serves to retain the knives in operative position, but it also excludes stones and dirt from the knives so that wear thereon is, minimized and undue friction is avoided. In order to further'reduce the friction on the knives so that they may operate with the greatestfacility, it is preferable to provide a slide set of supporting rollers 30 that are jourslots 31 which extend longitudinally between v the respective rollers and through which the sand may be discharged,

Accordin to the present invention the knives are s multaneously reciprocated in oppo'sitedirections, and while it will be understood that any suitable driving mechanism may be employed for effecting these movements, it is preferableto employ a driving mechanism similar to that shown in the present instance, which embodies a pair of eccentrics 32 ,and 33 fixed to the operating shaft 10 and set at 180 relative to one another.

In order to facilitate mounting of the eccentrics and to insure proper relation thereof at all times, it is preferable to form the two eccentrics ofa sin le casting connected by a sleeve 34 which is ored to receive the operating shaft, a setscrew or other suitable means being employed for securing the eccentrics thereon. It is also preferable to minimize friction during the operation of the eccentrics, and for this reason the grooves 35in the peripheries of the eccentrics, in the present instance constitute ball races in which the anti-friction balls or rollers 36 operate, and the eccentric straps 37, have inwardl extending flanges 38 or rollers andalso theparallel walls of the grooves to prevent lateral" displacement of the straps. v

The reciprocatory movements of the e'ccentrics are transmitted to the knives by means ofthe eccentric rods or pitmen 39 and 40. In those mowers wherein the knife carrywhich cocperate wlth the anti-friction balls ing arm is capable of tilting on an axis transverse to the pivot about which it swings, which tilting or rocking movement involves a relative forward and rearward motion of the lower portion of the arm, it is preferable toprovide the eccentric rods or pitmen with compensating connections whereby the forward and rearward movements just described may take place without a twistin or bindin action of the eccentric straps. re atively to t e respective eccentrics, the eccentric rods being provided, in the present instance,with forked'ends 41 having oppositely arran d inwardly extending projections 42 a apted to cooperate with 'simllarly arranged recesses 43 formed in a In 44 on the respective eccentric strap, a ho t or equivalent part 45 extending-through the ,lug of the strap and connecting the forked arms to secure the parts in cooperative relation.

The outer ends of the eccentric rods or pitmen may be connected to the respective knives in any suitable way, the upper knife bar in the present instance being provided with an eye 46 extending directly upwardly therefrom, while the lower knife bar is provided with a lateral off-set extension 47 having an eye 48 thereon, the two eyes being offset relatively to eachother and adapted to receive the.laterally turned ends 49 and 50 of the respective eccentric rods. The latter may be secured against disengagement relatively to the eyes either by use of the well known cotter pins, or they may be secured by washers 51, which in turn are fastenedby bolts 52. WVhen the knives are so constructed the knife sections do not extend quite to the inner ends of the knife bars, a plate 53 being preferably riveted to the bar ofthe upper knife in place of the knife sections and providing a cooperating bearing surface for the elf-set portion -47 of the lower knife.

The movement of the mower over the ground causes a revolving movement of the driving wheels, which in turn is transmitted at an increased speed to the operating shaft 10, the reversely arranged eccentrics on the latter producing reciprocatory movements of the eccentric rods in reverse directions, which in turn are transmitted to the knives. The material to be cut enters between the pointed knife blades or sections of the upper and lower knives, and as both edges of each knife section are sharpened and approach the material from the opposite sides thereof, the stems of the material will be sharply severed by a cutting action, the cutting edges engaging at opposite sides thereof. Moreover, as there are two knives operating simultaneously in reverse directions, the aggregate cutting speed is practically doubled as compared to mowers of the ordinary type, wherein the movable blades cooperate with relatively fixed guards, the latter serving to hold the stems of the material while the cutting action takes place.

The rapid movements of the knives involve very little friction for the reason that the hardened blades or knife sections of the two knives slide upon one another, while the weight of the knives is sustained by the anti-friction rollers interposed between them and the knife carrying arm. As the eyes present invention is that choking which is an objectionable feature of mowers of the usual kind using relatively fixed guards, is obviatedgfor the reason that the material is cut from both directions by the double knives so that it cannot become a-Inmed and thus impede'the movement of the knives.

I claim as my invention:

1. A knife attachment for mowers embodying a knife carrying arm, a pair of cutting knives comprising bars guided to reciprocate longitudinally of the arm, knife blades secured to the proximate surfaces of the bars and having sliding engagement-with one another, and attaching eyes, one of the latter being formed on one of thebars and the other being supported on a plate attached to the other bar, and means cooperating with the said eyes for simultaneously reciprocating the lmives in reverse directions.

2. In a knife attachment for mowers, the V with the said flange as a guide, sets of blades secured to the proximate faces of the bars and having sliding engagement with one another, an attaching eye formed in alinement with and attached to the upper knife bar, a plate. secured to and extending laterally of the lower knife bar, an eye carried by the said plateand ofl-set laterally of the eye first mentioned, means cooperating with the respective eyes for simultaneously reciprocating the knives iii-reverse directions, and a casing extending longitudinally of the knife supporting arm and cooperating with the bar of the upper knife.

3. In a knife attachment for mowers, the combination with an arm having an upturned flange at its forward edge, of a pair of cooperating knives comprising upper and lower bars, the lower bar cooperating with the said flange on the arm as a guide, a casing detachably secured to the upper side of said arm and cooperating with the upper bar, sets of cooperating knife blades secured to the proximate faces of said bars, an eye formed on the upper bar, a bearing plate secured to the under side of the upper bar beneath the eye thereon, a plate secured to the upper side of the lower bar and adapted to cooperate with the plate first mentioned, an eye secured to the upper side of the plate on the lower bar, and means cooperating with the said eyes for simultaneously'reciprocating the knives in reverse'direetions.

4:. In a knife attachment for mowers, the combination with an arm having its forward edge upturned to form a flange, of apair of knives comprising bars movable longitudinally of the arm, the lower bar coiip said plates having a thickness-equal to that other, and means cooperating with said eyes ably secured to the a set of upwardly opening recesses arranged gagement with the longitudinal bar 0 the.

erating at' its forward edge with the flange on the arm, cooperating sets of knife-blades arranged betweenthe bars, a casing detachu per side ofthe arm. having a depending ange at its forward edge adapted to cooperate with the corresponding edge of the upper knife bar and having a depending portion to enga e the rear edges of the upper and lower kni e bars to guide them, a pan of attaching eyes, one, arranged on the upper bar and the'other offset laterally relatively to the said casing, cooperating plates attached to and interposed between the respective bars, theone on the lower plate carrying the offset eye,

of theknife blades and slidable on one anfor simultaneously reciprocating the knives. 5. A knife attachment for mowers compris- 1ng an arm provided in its upper surface with at intervals longitudinally thereof and having longitudinally extending slots formed therein between said recesses, a pair of knives comprising longitudinally extending bars and sets of knife blades arranged between them, a set of anti-friction rollers 'journaled in said recesses on axes transverse to the length of said arm and having a rollin enlower knife, and a protective casing co-exnesses.

tensive with the length of said arm and seeoa'zea cured to the upper side thereof, said casing cooperating w1t the longjitudinallyextending bar of the up er knif to guide the same and serving to ho d both knives in operative position to revent displacement of the supporting rol ens.

'6; A knife attachment for mowers comprising a knife carrying arm adapted for attachment to the mower and having roller having a continuous portion cooperatin with the bar of the upper knife to guide an protect the latter, and eyes carried byv the bars of the respective knives and offset laterally relatively to one-another.

In testimonywhereof I have hereunto set my hand in'presence of two subscribing'wit- JOHN Witnesses:

EDWARD FLANGER,

J. H. THOMSEN.

HENRY SIEGFRIED. 

